Analysis of very volatile organic compounds (VVOC) and odor emission from decorative particleboard

  Objective  By analyzing the influence of thickness and decorative materials on very volatile organic compounds (VVOC) and odor intensity of wood-based panels, the released characteristics were explored.

  Method  Melamine-impregnated paper finished particleboard, polyvinyl chloride finished particleboard and particleboard with different thickness were selected as experimental subjects. VVOC and odor characteristic compounds released from these particleboards were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactory.

  Result  In this experiment, the types of VVOC of particleboard (PB), melamine-impregnated paper finished particleboard (MI-PB), and polyvinyl chloride finished particleboard (PVC-PB) were 9, 10 and 8, respectively. The released concentrations of TVVOC were as follows: PB > MI-PB > PVC-PB, 18 mm > 8 mm. TVVOC emission concentration of particleboard with different decorative materials was affected by the thickness to different degrees, with PB being the most affected and MI-PB being the least. Under different thicknesses and different finishes, the released concentration and odor intensity of each odor characteristic compound were different, and the odor intensity was related to the released concentration and odor threshold, different compounds did not conform to the changing rule of “higher concentration leads to higher odor intensity”. The overall odor characteristics of the decorative particleboard were mainly determined by the special fragrance and sweet fragrance, and the pungent odor as the basic characteristic odor plays an auxiliary role in the formation of overall odor. The main components of VVOC released from decorative particleboard were alcohols and ketones. The characteristic compounds with higher odor intensity were alcohols, ketones, ethers and esters. The types and mass concentration of VVOC were increased with the increase of thickness, and the odor characteristic compounds and odor intensity were increased accordingly.

  Conclusion  Decorative treatment can reduce the released species and content to a certain extent, and in this experiment, PVC as a decorative material plays a better inhibiting role on VVOC and odor intensity of particleboard than melamine-impregnated paper.